Royal Ballet and Opera

Teatime takes a turn 🫖🎩 The Mad Hatter’s tap solo in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is one of the ballet’s most crowd-pleasing delights. 🎥 Steven McRae is a burst of rhythm and eccentric charm in the midst of Wonderland mayhem. 🎟️Alice's Adventures in Wonderland returns to our Main Stage from 13 June. #AlicesAdventuresInWonderland #StevenMcRae #Ballet #TheRoyalBallet #RoyalBalletAndOpera #LewisCarroll

All eyes on the black swan 🦢 Mariela Nuñez performs Odile’s solo from Swan Lake, featuring an incredible fouetté sequence that never fails to thrill audiences. The daughter of the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart, Odile tricks Prince Sigfried into betraying his love for Odette and sets into motion one of classical ballet’s most famous and tragic endings. #SwanLake #Ballet #TheRoyalBallet #RoyalBalletAndOpera #Tchaikovsky

Off with their heads 👑❤️ Bold, brilliant and completely unhinged, the Queen of Hearts commands the stage in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Whether in the courtroom or on the croquet lawn, her appearances bring chaos, comedy and a theatrical flair that’s impossible to ignore. One of many colourful characters in this whimsical ballet, she’s a reminder that nothing in Wonderland is ever quite as it seems. 🩰 The Royal Ballet's Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland continues on our Main Stage until 28 June. 🎥 Lauren Cuthbertson #AlicesAdventuresInWonderland #QueenOfHearts #ChristopherWheeldon #TheRoyalBallet #Ballet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

Her very first pair 🩰 In this episode of What’s the Pointe, we follow a young dancer’s journey to her first pair of pointe shoes. It is a milestone filled with excitement, nerves and pride ✨ From the precision of the fitting to those first careful steps, this is a rite of passage every ballerina remembers. #TheRoyalBallet #PointeShoes #RoyalBalletSchool #Ballet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

Handmade, from start to finish 🧵🩰 In the latest episode of What’s the Pointe, we look at how every pointe shoe is made by hand — from the first stitch in the factory to the final custom touches sewn by the dancer herself. Built to perfectly match the foot, the role and the demands of the stage, no two pairs are exactly the same. #TheRoyalBallet #PointeShoes #Ballet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

What’s the pointe of a pointe shoe? 🩰👀 In this first episode of our brand new series What’s the Pointe, Freyja walks us through the fascinating history behind ballet’s famous footwear. Discover how generations of dancers adapted their shoes to develop their technique, dance with greater artistry, and seemingly defy gravity. And yes, this series is all about… Pointe shoes! 🩰✨ #TheRoyalBallet #PointeShoes #Ballet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

Needle, thread, and a quiet ritual 🩰🧵 In this episode of What’s the Pointe, we look at the first stage of pointe shoe preparation. From sewing ribbons and elastics to folding the heel and softening the box, each dancer has her own way of shaping the shoe to her foot. It’s a careful, calming ritual with one goal in mind: making the shoe ready for the demands of the stage. But this is just the beginning… #TheRoyalBallet #PointeShoes #Ballet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

A bright star of The Royal Ballet 🌟 Natalia Osipova’s performances are fearless, emotional and impossible to forget. From the ethereal tragedy of Giselle to the playful charm of La Fille mal gardée, her artistry shines in every role. The Art of Natalia Osipova is now available to watch on Royal Ballet and Opera Stream. Sign up to watch anytime, anywhere. #NataliaOsipova #Giselle #TheRoyalBallet #Ballet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

A pas de deux with paws 🐾🩰 White Cat and Puss-in-Boots take centre stage in this mischievous duet from The Sleeping Beauty. Full of character, wit and feline flair, it's one of the ballet's most memorable moments. 🎥 Sophie Allnatt and David Yudes perform in a production that has been part of The Royal Ballet's repertoire since 1946. #TheRoyalBallet #SleepingBeauty #Ballet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

From page to stage 📚 We’re marking Book Lovers Day by celebrating the timeless stories that inspire opera and ballet. From myth and fairytale to Shakespeare and Pushkin, literature has long shaped the world we bring to life on stage. Among them is Don Quixote, reimagined in Carlos Acosta’s vibrant production for The Royal Ballet. Cervantes’ classic story becomes a whirlwind of bold choreography, exuberant design and comic romance. Which of your favourite productions has its roots in the written word? 🎥 Akane Takada #Ballet #RoyalBallet #DonQuixote #BookLoversDay #RoyalBalletAndOpera

Wrecked to perfection 🩰 What does it take to make a pointe shoe truly stage-ready? In this episode of our What’s the Pointe series, Freyja reveals the surprising, and sometimes extreme methods dancers use to shape each pair to their exact needs. From softened edges to snapped shanks and crushed boxes, every adjustment helps turn the shoe into a trusted extension of the dancer’s body. #TheRoyalBallet #PointeShoes #Ballet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

A prince at odds with his destiny 💔 In this solo from Act I of Swan Lake, Prince Siegfried dances with quiet melancholy. Set to Tchaikovsky’s hauntingly beautiful score, each step reflects the burden of his royal duties and the ache for freedom. Enjoy this sorrowful showstopper from one of ballet’s most heartbreaking tales, performed by Vadim Muntagirov. #SwanLake #TheRoyalBallet #Ballet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

Rising to the spotlight🌟 In the latest episode of our Spotlight on series, Fumi Kaneko reflects on her path to becoming a Principal dancer, from the heartbreak of a cancelled debut to the honour of taking centre stage in some of ballet’s most beloved roles. ▶️ Sign up to Royal Ballet and Opera Stream to watch anytime, anywhere - link in bio. #Ballet #Dancer #FumiKaneko #TheRoyalBallet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

Otherworldly grace 🤍 The Dance of the Wilis in Act II of Giselle is one of the most haunting moments in the classical ballet repertoire. A vision of power and poise, Queen Myrtha brings an eerie presence to the forest as the Wilis rise around her in the moonlight. This scene captures the essence of Giselle, a ballet shaped by love, betrayal and the shadows they leave behind. 🎥 Marianela Núñez as Queen Myrtha #TheRoyalBallet #Giselle #DanceOfTheWilis #Ballet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

Basking in the summer light ☀️ Melissa Hamilton performs the role of the Summer Fairy in Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella, one of four seasonal fairies summoned by the Fairy Godmother to help prepare Cinderella for the ball. Bathed in florals and the colours of the season, the scene glows with the delicate magic of summer. 🩰 Enjoy Frederick Ashton’s timeless reworking of the famous rags-to-riches story on Royal Ballet and Opera Stream - sign up today via the link in our bio. #Cinderella #FrederickAshton #Ballet #TheRoyalBallet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

It takes two to dive 🐟 Effortless in appearance, the fish dive is anything but... This lift demands pinpoint timing, serious strength and total trust between partners - all for that blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment of magic ✨ #Ballet #TheRoyalBallet #RoyalBalletAndOpera #KnowYourSteps

Becoming the Queen of Hearts 👑❤️ Outrageous characters call for extraordinary transformations. Watch Mayara Magri become the Queen of Hearts in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, brought to life by the artistry of our talented makeup team. From sculpted brows to the iconic red lip, every detail adds to the drama. 💋 #AlicesAdventuresInWonderland #Ballet #TheRoyalBallet #TheatreMakeup #RoyalBalletAndOpera

A love song like no other 🎶 ‘Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa’ is one of opera’s most joyful duets - a flurry of comic timing, vocal agility and romantic bliss as Papageno and Papagena finally find each other at the end of The Magic Flute. Sung here by Roderick Williams and Christina Gansch, it captures the heart and humour of Mozart's fairy-tale opera. 🪈The Magic Flute returns to our Main Stage from 10 October. #TheMagicFlute #Papageno #Papagena #Mozart #TheRoyalOpera #Opera #RoyalBalletAndOpera

Slow, sustained grace ✨ Adage refers to the long, held movements in ballet that test a dancer’s control, balance and poise. These phrases often include graceful balances, unfolding extensions and soft, seamless port de bras. Though physically demanding, adage is crafted to look effortless - a quiet showcase of strength at the heart of classical technique. #Ballet #KnowYourSteps #TheRoyalBallet #RoyalBalletAndOpera

When two become one 🩰❤️ The pas de deux holds a special place in ballet, allowing the partnership at the heart of the choreography to shine. From the gentle longing of the White Swan pas de deux in Swan Lake to the passionate romance of the Balcony pas de deux in Romeo and Juliet, these duets are amongst some of ballet's most memorable moments. Do you have a favourite pas de deux? #PasDeDeux #Ballet #TheRoyalBallet #RoyalBalletAndOpera